The Federal Government has advised Nigerians in Diaspora to shun fake narratives and untrue allegations of religious persecution, political marginalization and human rights abuses being advanced by secessionist groups.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, gave the advice on Tuesday while playing host to the UK Chapter of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organization, NIDO, in Abuja.
According to the minister, these allegations are baseless and false, urging NIDO to leverage its contacts in government circles, parliamentary groups and global think tanks in world capitals to help change the narrative.
Mr Mohammed said; “Instead of contributing their own quota to these efforts, all you hear from a section of Nigerians in Diaspora and their allies back home are fake narratives and untrue allegations of religious persecution, political marginalization, human rights abuses, etc.
“These are baseless and false. As an organized and well connected group, I implore NIDO to leverage its contacts in government circles, parliamentary groups and global think tanks in world capitals to help change the narrative and sweep the carpet off the feet of secessionist groups, insurgents and anarchists who are bent on pushing false narratives to portray Nigeria in bad light.
“I have no doubt that you will take this call seriously and do everything in your power to change the narrative for the better.”
The minister, therefore, appealed to NIDO to seize the initiative from those who are bent on painting Nigeria bad in the comity of nations.
“Yes, we have challenges, especially in the area of insecurity. But this Administration has not only acknowledged these challenges, it is earnestly tackling them. I make bold to say that no government in the history of this country has done so much with so little.
“The Administration came in at a time that the country has lost one third of its revenue, due to a drastic crash in oil prices.
“Despite that, the Administration has recorded tremendous achievements in the area of infrastructure – roads, rail, power, housing, dams, etc. -, Agriculture, where the country is closer than ever to achieving self-sufficiency in major staples, the fight against corruption, which the administration is prosecuting in an institutionalized manner as well as the revamping of the economy, especially through diversification,” the minister added.